Threading machine



Aug. 7, 1951 P. CARD] THREADING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8,1949 INVENTOR. Pqul Cflrdl ATTORNE.

Aug. 7, 1951 P. CARD] 2,563,210

THREADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8. 1949 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INVENTOR.

Cardi ATTORNE? Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES lATENT OFFICETHREADING MACHINE Paul Cardi, Cranston, R. I.

.Appli'cationDecember 8, 1949, Serial No. 131.715

14 Claims. 1

My present invention relates to threading machines, and moreparticularly to a machine for threading beads, artificial pearls, andsimilar articles. g.

The, principal object of the present invention is to provide a machinewhich .will rapidly thread paratively-simple inconstruction and easyandv economical to manufacture andassemble.

.Another object of thevpresentinvention is to provide a bead stringingmachine which. is simple and easy'to operate and does not.requirespecial skills. I

With-the above and tageous features in view, my invention consists of anovel arrangement of parts, more fully -disclosed in the detaileddescription following, in conjunction with .the accompanying drawings,and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

. In the drawings,

Fig. l: is aperspective view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is aisectionthereof of.-Fig.' 1; N

Fig. 3 isa bottom view of a. section of the trough takenon line 3--'3.ofFig. 1;

.Flg. 4 is an enlarged view of the trough suspension, partly in section;V

;Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged detailed views of the lever-.andneedle.operations taken. from the position shown in Fig. 2

Fig. 8 is enlarged perspective view of the tip of .oneof thethreadingneedles;

Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof thestop lever; and

. Fig. -10 is :a perspective view. of. the actuating levers.

With the modern-style'trends in the jewelry industryand'thedevelopmentspf new and better methods. of manufacture, there :hasbeen a great increase in thedemand for artificialor synthetic pearls..These pearls can now be manufactured rapidlyand cheaply-in .quantity..However, the threading .of these pearls on strings presents a problemwhich has. not.beensatisfactorily solved todate. .Thereare a few machins manufactured which. thread beads. or pearls, but they are. complicated and costly to build and they :areslow and have alimitedcapacity. 4

Most threadingis done by hand and this adds considerably to the finalcostof'the'necklace. .The

taken .on. line 2-2 other.v objects andv advanpresent invention providesa .simple machine which is easy and economical to manufacture andassemble and which has been found in actual use to thread beads orpearls so rapidly that it requires at least two operators toservice eachmachine. 7

Referring more in detailto the drawings illustrating my invention, Fig.1 shows a complete machine embodying my invention. The :deviceispreferably mounted on a base comprising'legs 29 connected by end bars2! and a table top portion 22 extending across the-front of the base. Inow provide a frame mounted on theend bases 2i .andcomprising verticalsupports 23 extending from each end base 2 i 1 and connected at theirupper ends by a horizontal support 24. The vertical support "23,totheleft in..-L Eig. l, is providedwith a clamp 25 supporting areservoir 26 having a funnel bottom 21. The beads or artificial pearls28 are put intothisreservoir and feed through the funnel'bottom 2'! intothe trough 29. The trough 29.is generally v-shaped so that the beads orpearls will gravitate along the center, thereof. The trough'29..is-mounted on the vertical frame. members. 23 in the manner. shownin Fig. 4. An angle ,iron.30..-is bolted to the front of .each member 23and supports .arubber plate or washer 3| upon which-anextended Portion32 of the trough 2'9 rests. A bolt 33 extends through the angle iron,the rubber plate and the, portion 32 and holds the parts resilientlytogether by means of a coil spring 34' positioned beneath the head ofthe bolt. This arrangement holds. the trough firmly in place, :but.permits vibrating movement thereof as will-hereinafter be described.

The trough 29 is provided with av depending flange=35 extending alongthe .bottomrear wing of the trough as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. .It isalso provided with a similardepending portion 36 along the front edgethereof. The flange portion 36 is provided along its front bottom. edgeat spaced intervals with slots 31, seeFig. 4, which have wide frontportions 38 and taper rearwardly towards the narrow slot portion 31. Thebottom central portionofi the trough is provided with spaced openings39, seeF-i v3, ofsufficient diameter to accommodate one head or pearl.Eachslot 31 is positioned in alignment with each opening 38andcommunicating therewith. The trough is vibrated by meansof .aconventional vibrator ill, having depending arms, which is mounted onthejtop edgeofthe central part of the trough,-as shown in'Figs. 1-: and:2. The vibrator is operated from aswitch 4|- and-rheostat 42 mounted onthe top horizontal supporting bar 24, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thepearls 28 thus feed into the trough 29 through the funnel 21 and thevibration of the trough causes the pearls or beads to move along thetrough in a concentration towards the bottom central portion thereof,with said beads dropping into the openings 39, as will hereinafter bedescribed.

The beads or pearls are initially threaded by the machine on needles 43,each opening 39 being provided with its own threading needle. Adjacentthe bottom end of each vertical support 23 is mounted a bracket 44supporting between them a rod 45. Each needle 43 is supported in anannular member 46 which is mounted on the rod 45, as shown in Figs. 1and 5. The needle 43 extends into an opening 41 in the member 46 and isheld in place by means of a thumb screw 48 extending through a cutawayportion 49 on the member 46. The member 46 can be held in any angularposition on the rod45 by means of a thumb screw 56. When the needle isin upright position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, it will extend into theopening 39 in the trough 29, so that the upper end of the needle will beslightly below the level of the trough. In this position, as the troughis vibrated, the beads, bouncing along the trough, will be preventedfrom dropping into the openings 39 unless the thread opening of theindividual bead is in alignment with the needle, in which case the headwill slide through the opening 39 and on to the needle, as shown in Fig.5.

In order to control the removal of the beads from the needle and thenumber of beads threaded to the needle, I have provided the leverlinkage shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10. Pivotally mounted beneath andrearwardly of the trough 29 behind each needle 43 is a stop lever 5|,Fig. 9. The lever 5| comprises an arm 52 having an upturned V-shapedfront portion 53. Pivotally mounted below each stop lever 5| is anactuating lever 54, Fig. 10, which comprises a rearwardly extending arm55 having spaced adjustment openings 56 and having a forwardly anddownwardly integrally extending portion 51 with a V-shaped toe 58. Thislever is mounted on a hub 59 having a forwardly extending lever 60 formanual operation. One of the adjustment openings 56 is linked to anopening 6| in the lever 5| by means of the link bar 62. The levers 54are all mounted on a bar 63 extending between the vertical supports 23and the movement of each lever may be regulated by a thumb screw ortappet screw 64 mounted in a supporting angle iron 65. Thus, the needle43 can be properly centered under its opening by adjusting the screw 64.Also extending between the supports 23 to retain the levers in desiredposition, I use the spring 66 mounted on an angle iron 61 also extendingbetween the supports 23.

In operation, the parts are positioned as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Inthis position, the needles 43 extend vertically into the openings 39 andmay be locked in this position by tightening the thumb screws 50.' Thelever 54 is in its up position with the V-shaped toe portion 58straddling the circumference of the needle spaced from the bottom endthereof and preventing the beads that may drop on to the needle frompassing beyond the toes 58. It has been found that the beads or pearlswill drop on to the needles with such speed that an operator is neededfor each dozen needles. As soon as any needle has its full complement ofbeads or pearls, the lever 60 is pushed downwardly, as shown in Fig. 6.The initial movement of the lever 60 will swing the toes 58 away fromthe needle 43 into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 and permitthe beads 26 to drop downwardly upon the needle and expose the upper endof the needle as shown in Fig. 5. Further movement of the lever throughthe bars 62 will swing the stop lever 5| upwardly, so that the V-shapedfront portion 53 operates along the exposed portion of the needle intothe bottom portion of the opening 39 and prevents any further beads fromentering the openings. Th spring 66 will retain the levers in thisposition.

The thumb screw 56 is now loosened and the needle 43 pivoted forwardlytowards the operator into the position shown in Fig. '7. The top of theneedle is provided with a cutaway hook portion 68 into which a wire orcord can be hooked as shown in Fig. 8. The operative merely slides thebeads off the needle 43 and on to the wire or thread 68. The wire orthread 69 is then unhooked and the needle pushed back through the slots38 and 31 into vertical position and locked in such position bymeans ofthe thumb screw 50. The lever Iitl is now snapped upwardly against theaction of the spring 66 and the parts are back in the position shown inFigs. 2 and 5, ready for another operation.

It is desirable that the needles have a tendency to remain in verticalposition without looking. This can be accomplished by springs or by thearrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein a cord 10. is attached toeach member 46 and holding the weight ll. As can be seen in Fig. 2, whenthe needle is pulled downwardly, the cord will wind on the member 46 andthe weight will tend to draw the needle vertically and hold it invertical position. The use of thethumb screw 56 is therefore optional,as the cord 10 and weight 1 I will always tend to swing the needle intovertical position.

It can thus be readily seen that the device is simple in constructionand easy and economical to manufacture and assemble. The assembly is sorapid that very few needles are required to keep an operator busyremoving the beads on threads. It has been found that a row of 25openings and needles will exhaust the quantity of beads travelling alongthe trough 29.'

Beads that are defective and cannot slide on to any needle willeventually work their way to the end of the trough, and an opening maybeprovided for allowing them to drop into a discard receptacle. g I WhileI have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is obviousthat changes may readily be made in the size, shape or relativearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal trough mounted onsaid frame, said trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinallyaligned openings, means for feeding beads to one end of said trough,means for vibrating said trough, and a plurality of vertically alignedneedles supported by said frame beneath said trough so that each needleprojects below each trough opening, whereby the vibration of said troughwill cause said beads to drop through said openings in threaded positionon said needles. I

2. An apparatus for threadingbeads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal trough mounted onsaid' frame, said trough having a plurality of spaced :5 longitudinallyaligned openings, means. for. f eeding beads to one end ofisaid trouh,.means;for vibrating said trough,.andapluralityof vertically alignedneedle supported .bysaid' frame beneath said trough so thateachneedleprojectsbelow each trough opening, wherebythe vibration ofsaidtrough will oausesaid beadsto drop-through said openings in threadedposition on said needles, said needles. each having a.hook..portl0nadjacent its free endto retaina loop of thread for transferring saidthreaded beadsto saidthread.

3.. An apparatus for threading .beads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on-said base, a horizontal trough mounted onsaid frame, said trough having .a. plurality of. spaced longitudinallyaligned opening meansforfeeding beads to one end of said trough,.meansfor vibratingsaid trough, asupport mountedon said frame beneathsaidtrough,.and a plurality of vertically aligned needles mounted .on saidsupport so that each needle projects .below each trough opening,wherebythe vibration of said trough will cause said beads to dropthrough said openings .in threaded position on said needles.

4. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, avertical-supportingframe mounted on said base, a horizontaltrough-mounted on said frame, said trough having .a plurality of spacedlongitudinally aligned openings, means forfeeding beads to one end ofsaid trough, means for vibrating said trough, a support mounted on saidframe beneath,saidztrough,-=and a plurality of vertically alignedneedles mounted on said support so that each needle projects below eachtrough opening, whereby the vibration of said trough will cause saidbeads to drop through said openings in threaded position on saidneedles, said needles each having a hook portion adjacent its free endto retain a loop of thread for transferring said threaded beads to saidthread.

5. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, averticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal trough mounted onsaid frame, said trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinallyaligned openings, means for feeding beads to one end of said trough,means for vibrating said trough, and a plurality of vertically alignedneedles supported by said frame beneath said trough so that each needleprojects below each trough opening, whereby the vibration of said troughwill cause said beads to drop through said openings in threaded positionon said needles, said needles being each pivotally mounted to swingforwardly to permit removal of said beads.

6. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal trough mounted onsaid frame, said trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinallyaligned openings, means for feeding beads to one end of said trough,means for vibrating said trough, a plurality of vertically alignedneedles supported by said frame beneath said trough so that each needleprojects below each trough opening, whereby the vibration of said troughwill cause said beads to drop through said openings in threaded positionon said needles, said needles being each pivotally mounted to swingforwardly to permit removal of said beads and said needles each having ahook portion adjacent its free end to retain a loop of thread fortransferring said threaded beads to said thread.

'7. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal trough mounted onsaid frame, said trough having a plurality of spacedlongitudinallyallgned openings, mean for feedingibeads to ;one. endOfsaidtrou h, eans for vibrating said trough, a support mounted on saidframe .beneath .saidtrough, and a plurality .of vertically.alignedneeidles mounted on said support .so .that .each needle projectsl we trough opening, whereby the vibration of said troughwillcausesaidbeads todrop through sa d openings .in threaded .positionon said nedles, aid needles being .each pivotally-mounted tov swing forwardly topermit-removal ofsaid beads.

. 8,. Amapparatus for threading beads comprising. a base, .averticalsunporting frame mounted on. said base, a horizontal trough.mountedon said frame, said trough. having a plurality of spacedlongitudinallyaligned openings, means for feeding .beads to oneend. ofsaid trough, meansfor vibrating said trough, asupport mountedon saidframe beneathsaid trough, a plurality of vertically aligned needlesmounted on said supportso that each needle projects below each troughopening, whereby the vibration of said trough will causesaid beads todrop through said openings in threaded position .on said needles, saidneedles being each pivotally mounted to swing forwardly topermit removalof said beads, and said needles each having a hookportionadjacent itsfree end to retain aloopof thread for transferring said threaded beadsto said thread.

9. .-An apparatus for, threading beads compris ing-.abasaa verticalsupporting frame mounted on said basaa horizontal trough mounted on saidframe, said trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinally alignedopenings, means for feeding beads to one end of said trough, means forvibrating said trough, a plurality of vertically aligned needlessupported by said frame beneath said trough so that each needle projectsbelow each trough opening, whereby the vibration of said trough willcause said beads to drop through said openings in threaded position onsaid needles, and means for blocking each of said trough openings whilethe threaded beads are removed from said needles.

10. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal trough mounted onsaid frame, said trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinallyaligned openings, means for feeding beads to one end of said trough,means for vibrating said trough, a plurality of vertically alignedneedles supported by said frame beneath said trough so that each needleprojects below each trough opening, whereby the vibration of said troughwill cause said beads to drop through said openings in threaded positionon said needles, said needles each having a hook portion adjacent itsfree end to retain a loop of thread for transferring said threaded beadsto said thread, and means for blocking each of said trough openingswhile the threaded beads are removed from said needles.

11. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal trough mounted onsaid frame, said trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinallyaligned openings, means for feed'm'g beads to one end of said trough,means for vibrating said trough, a support mounted on said frame beneathsaid trough, a plurality of vertically aligned needles mounted on saidsupport so that each needle projects below each trough opening, wherebythe vibration of said trough will cause said beads to drop through saidopenings in threaded position on said needles,

. 7 and means for blocking each of said trough openings while thethreaded beads are removed from said needles.

12. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal trough'mounted onsaid frame, said trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinallyaligned openings, means for feeding beads to one end of said trough,means for vibrating said trough a plurality of vertically alignedneedles supported by said frame beneath said trough so that each needleprojects below each trough opening, whereby the vibration of said troughwill cause said beads to drop through said openings in threaded positionon said needles, said needles being, each pivotally mounted to swingforwardly to permit removal of said beads, and means for blocking-eachof said trough openings while the threaded beads are removed from saidneedles. v

13. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal'trough mounted onsaid frame, said trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinallyaligned openings, means for feeding beads to one end of said trough,means for vibrating said trough, a plurality of vertically alignedneedles supported by said frame beneath said trough so thateach needleprojects below each trough opening, whereby the vibration of said troughwill cause said beads to drop through said openings in threaded positionon said needles, said needles being each pivotally mounten to swingforwardly to permit removal of said beads and said needles each having ahook portion adjacent its free end to retain a loop of thread fortransferring said threaded beads to said thread, and means for blockingeach of said trough openings while the threaded beads are removed fromsaid needles.

14. An apparatus for threading beads comprising a base, a verticalsupporting frame mounted on said base, a horizontal trough mounted onsaid frame, said trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinallyaligned openings, means for feeding beads to one end of said trough,means for vibrating said trough, a support mounted on said frame beneathsaid trough, a plurality of vertically aligned needles mounted on saidsupport so that each needle projects below each trough opening, wherebythe vibration of said trough will cause said beads to drop through saidopenings in threaded position on said needles, said needles being eachpivotally mounted to swing forwardly to permit removal of said beads,said needles each having a hook portion adjacent its free end to retaina loop of thread for transferring said threaded beads to said thread andmeans for blocking each of said trough openings while the threaded beadsare removed from said needles.

PAUL CARDI.

No references cited.

